John Philip Sousa ( 1854-1932) Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
No other American composers are as important to me as John Philip Sousa and Aaron Copland. I LOVE marches - patriotic marches! I remember learning to play them in band and wow, could they stir your soul! I can still sing all the words to Stars and Stripes Forever! I remember when I could identify El Capitan by the first few phrases. Sousa even wrote several marches for several universities including the University of Illinois and University of Kansas. ALL children should be required to spend a period of time studying patriotic music and learn the words to the all the songs of each service branch also! My two cents!
Aaron Copland lived later than Sousa, but I love hearing Rodeo and visualizing buckeroos riding bucking broncos. Going to Western Illinois University football games leaves me hoping the band will play Fanfare for the Common Man at half time. You feel that music in your bones! Appalachian Spring is another one.
Music IS a universal language. I'm so fortunate to have been able to learn this music and enjoy it.
